Land use

Agriculture is the biggest single driver of deforestation, stripping away forests that reduce climate change by absorbing and storing carbon. Livestock takes up the most space, with land used to grow animal feed and for grazing using nearly 80 per cent of all agricultural land.

Waste

Up to a third of all food is wasted - totalling around 1.3 billion tonnes per year. It results in unnecessary emissions and means food does not reach those who need it. Experts predict the amount of food waste will rise further without action.

A growing population

The number of people on earth is expected to grow to 9.8 billion by 2050, adding pressure on the world’s resources. It is estimated that world food production may have to double (PDF) to keep pace with demographic changes.

Sources: World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Boston Consulting Group, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition, UN-Water

This story was published with permission from Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women’s and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, property rights, and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org

Thanks for reading to the end of this story!

We would be grateful if you would consider joining as a member of The EB Circle. This helps to keep our stories and resources free for all, and it also supports independent journalism dedicated to sustainable development. It only costs as little as S$5 a month, and you would be helping to make a big difference.